US Will Not Attack Iran Before Midterms, Trump Says

US President Donald Trump has ruled out an American military attack on Iran before the November 3 midterm elections, saying Washington and Tehran are engaged in what he described as “productive discussions.”

Trump made the announcement Thursday in a post on Truth Social, saying the United States would not attack Iran “at any time” before the midterm elections. He also reiterated that Iran would not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.

The announcement came after reports that the Trump administration had been considering renewed military action against Iran. The Atlantic reported that Pentagon planners had been weighing options for strikes, while Axios reported that US Central Command had been instructed to prepare for possible major combat operations. No final decision on such an attack had been announced before Trump’s latest statement.

Trump’s latest position represents a change in the immediate public messaging surrounding the conflict. He has previously suggested that the war could end around the time of the US elections and has said Iran was attempting to wait out the election period.

The conflict, which began in February with US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, has also affected energy markets and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The strategic waterway remains at the centre of negotiations between Washington and Tehran, with both sides exchanging proposals aimed at ending the conflict and restoring more normal shipping conditions.

Despite ruling out an attack before the election, Trump said the US blockade of Iran would remain in force. Reports also indicate that American military forces continue to maintain a significant presence in the region amid continuing tensions and attacks involving commercial shipping.

Iran has meanwhile maintained its position on its nuclear programme. Iranian state media reported Thursday that Tehran would not abandon uranium enrichment or surrender its uranium stockpile. The United States, Israel and several Western countries have accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, while Tehran has denied pursuing such weapons.

The November 3 elections will determine control of the US Congress, with all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats being contested. The Iran conflict has become an increasingly important domestic issue, particularly because disruptions in energy supplies have contributed to higher fuel prices.

Trump’s announcement therefore temporarily removes the possibility of a new US strike before the election, although it does not signal an end to the wider confrontation. The president has continued to insist that Iran must not acquire a nuclear weapon, while Washington and Tehran remain divided over the terms of any agreement to end the conflict.